Enhancing value based adoption of soil and water conservation practices
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The document discusses the importance of soil conservation and adopting sustainable land management practices. It notes that while the economic value of soil conservation is difficult to quantify, many important things have value beyond just economics. The document argues that moving beyond economics as the sole determinant of good practices and incorporating ethical perspectives is needed to ensure the wise use of soil and water resources going forward.
Enhancing value based adoption of soil and water conservation practices
- 1. Enhancing Value-Based Adoption of Soil and Water Conservation Practices Tom Sauer USDA-ARS-NLAE Ames, IA 1 Chair, Commission on the History, Philosophy and Sociology of Soil Science (C4.5) International Union of Soil Science
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- 3. The 68th UN General Assembly declared 2015 the International Year of Soils (IYS) (A/RES/68/232). The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has been nominated to implement the IYS 2015, within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership and in collaboration with Governments and the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. The IYS 2015 aims to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of soil for food security and essential ecosystem functions. http://www.iuss.org/index.php?article_id=588 3
- 5. 5 Top Programs in the United States, 1995-2016 Rank Program Number of Recipients 1995-2016 Subsidy Total 1995-2016 1 Corn Subsidies 1,841,844 $105,985,590,547 2 Wheat Subsidies 1,552,872 $43,273,694,413 3 Conservation Reserve Program 1,005,459 $38,601,861,405 4 Cotton Subsidies 304,269 $37,651,250,394 5 Soybean Subsidies 1,204,610 $35,632,310,883 6 Disaster Payments 1,490,024 $30,998,612,599 7 Rice Subsidies 82,728 $15,343,046,136 8 Livestock Subsidies 916,705 $10,332,892,544 9 Sorghum Subsidies 694,687 $7,871,924,419 10 Dairy Program Subsidies 163,022 $5,582,092,050 11 Env. Quality Incentive Program 279,783 $4,236,241,343 12 Peanut Subsidies 96,523 $4,013,055,193 13 Barley Subsidies 388,012 $3,051,949,503 14 Tobacco Subsidies 405,070 $1,895,469,609 15 Sunflower Subsidies 74,584 $1,207,879,941 16 Canola Subsidies 26,045 $766,680,347 17 Wetlands Reserve Program 6,491 $532,964,046 18 Price Loss Coverage - Wheat 173,045 $499,187,771 19 Oat Subsidies 706,374 $332,620,252 20 Apple Subsidies 8,586 $261,540,987 https://farm.ewg.org/region.php?fips=00000
- 6. 6https://farm.ewg.org/region.php?fips=00000 USDA Conservation Programs $2.31 billion/year $6.3 million/day $264,000/hour $4,400/minute TJS’ 20 min talk: $88,000 22% 9% 13% 56% ~ 20/yr C-130J Super Hercules ($100+ million each)
- 7. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/ technical/nra/nri/?cid=stelprdb1041887 Blue dot = 100,000 tons erosion by water Red dot = 100,000 tons erosion by wind http://www.gulfhypoxia.net/news/default.asp?XML Filename=201106211203.xml 7 Soil and Water
- 8. 8 Soil and Trouble Science 11 Jun 2004: Vol. 304, Issue 5677, pp. 1614-1615 DOI: 10.1126/science.304.56 77.1614
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- 10. 10 Neglect Erosion Degradation Respect Conservation Restoration The Fate of Soil and Water yin yang
- 11. 11 If we value the many functions of soils and really appreciate their importance for food production and other ecosystem services, why do we, like past generations, not manage them in a more sustainable fashion? Or Do soil erosion/degradation really matter? The Question(s) Some Responses It’s too risky or expensive to change practices My erosion is low and yields are still increasing anyway I only rent the land so it’s not up to me Reduced or no-tillage may reduce erosion but it lowers yield Surface crop residue increases disease and insect pressure “Conservation doesn’t pay” or “Erosion/degradation don’t matter
- 12. How Important are Economic Considerations? 12https://www.cnpp.usda.gov/sites/default/files/crc2015.pdf Many things that are very important to us have economic value that is difficult to quantify.
- 13. Conservation “a careful preservation and protection of something; especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect” (Meriam Webster) 13 “The outcome is a tribute to the wisdom, courage and foresight of the farm families who adopted the modern methods of conservation farming illustrated here.” Aldo Leopold (1887-1948)
- 14. Aldo Leopold • Wrote but never submitted “Some Fundamentals of Conservation in the Southwest – Conservation as a Moral Issue” in 1923 (Published in 1979: Environmental Ethics 1:131-141) “If there be, indeed, a special nobility inherent in the human race – a special cosmic value, distinctive from and superior to all other life – by what token shall it be manifest? By a society decently respectful of its own and all other life, capable of inhabiting the earth without defiling it?” • Americans: “…self-imposed doctrine of ruthless utilitarianism.” 1935. Am. Forests 41:205-208. • 3 motives for soil conservation – self interest, legislation, & ethics 14 “The landscape of any farm is the farmer’s portrait of himself. Conservation implies self-expression in that landscape, rather than blind compliance with economic dogma.” Aldo Leopold Forest
- 15. Leopold’s “The Land Ethic” • Essay in “A Sand County Almanac” (1949) “The case for a land ethic would appear hopeless but for the minority which is in obvious revolt against these ‘modern’ trends.” “Despite nearly a century of propaganda, conservation still proceeds at a snail’s pace; …” “It is inconceivable to me that an ethical relation to land can exist without love, respect, and admiration for land, and a high regard for its value. By value, I of course mean something far broader than mere economic value; I mean value in the philosophical sense.” 15
- 16. “White” 16 Lecture delivered to the American Association for the Advancement of Science December 26, 1966 in Washington, DC.
- 17. Lynn White, Jr. 1967. The historical roots of our ecologic crisis. Science. 155:1203-1207. “… no item in the physical creation had any purpose save to serve man’s purposes.” “science and technology … joined to give mankind power which, to judge by many of the ecological effects, are out of control. If so, Christianity bears a huge burden of guilt.” “… our present science and technology are so tinctured with Orthodox Christian arrogance toward nature that no solution for our ecologic crisis can be expected from them alone.” https://natureecoevocommunity.nature.com/users/24738-michael-paul- nelson/posts/14041-the-long-reach-of-lynn-white-jr-s-the-historical-roots-of-our-ecologic- crisis Michael Paul Nelson Ruth H. Spaniol Chair of Renewable Resources and Professor of Environmental Ethics and Philosophy, Oregon State University 17
- 18. White - Continuing the Conversation “Men commit their lives to what they consider good.” White, L., Jr. 1973. Continuing the conversation. pp. 55-64 In: I.. Barbour (ed.) Western Man and Environmental Ethics – Attitudes Toward Nature and and Technology. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA. 276 pp. “The artifacts of society, including its political, social and economic patterns, are shaped primarily by what the mass of individuals in that society believe, at the sub-verbal level, about who they are, about their relation to other people and to the natural environment, and about their own destiny.” 18 TJS 2018: “Farm landowners and operators commit their resources to what they value.”
- 19. Wisdom 1a : accumulated philosophic or scientific learning : knowledge b : ability to discern inner qualities and relationships : insight c : good sense : judgment d : generally accepted belief 2 : a wise attitude, belief, or course of action m-w.com Star Wars: Episode II. Attack of the Clones 2002 Dexter Jettster: “I should think you Jedi would have more respect for the difference between knowledge and wisdom.” 19 Developing Good Practices
- 20. East / Pre-19th Century West Modern West KnowledgeUnderstanding Science Philosophy Religion Religion Philosophy Science Value Structures Practice Wisdom? P. Khan, 1999 Science and Culture 20
- 21. 21 “Because it’s essential to connect the impacts of a changing climate directly to what’s already meaningful in one’s life, and for many people, faith is central to who they are.” Katharine Hayhoe
- 22. Going Forward • The focus of science is on data, in pursuit of knowledge. Methods and protocols for collecting, interpreting, and reporting are well established and widely accepted. • The development of equitable/sound management practices requires accurate interpretation and application of information (i.e. wisdom). Methods and protocols are not as well established or widely accepted. • In order to improve soil and water conservation in the 21st century, agricultural management must move beyond economics as the primary determinant of good practice. • To achieve the full benefit of science’s contributions, greater appreciation of ethical perspectives is needed to assure wise use of resources. 22
- 23. Benedictine Stewardship St. Benedict of Nursia (c.480-543) Vow of Stability “The vow of stability concerns the commitment of the monks to stay long periods of time in the same place, utilizing the same space, buildings and tools, and ultimately passing something on to yet another generation.” D. M. Nothwehr, 2002 23
- 24. How Important are Economic Considerations? 24 If you find a wallet on the sidewalk on a deserted street with $1000 of cash and ID inside, do you 1) take the money (economic decision) or 2) find the owner? If you chose #2, why? Personal values do enter into your decisions - When? - Why? - How?
Editor's Notes
- #20: Distinction between knowledge and wisdom is important. Current age allows rapid accumulation of knowledge.